FAIRBAIRN RANCH
The Native American Pomo people gathered in this place the called Sanel (SHA –nel) living in complete harmony with the land. Today, the Fairbairn Ranch’s 22 acres of award-winning Syrah are rooted in the Redvine sandy loam soils of Mendocino County just east of Hopland. Initially planted in 1986 and farmed organically, then replanted with Syrah in 1994 and farmed under Biodynamic® practice ever since, nearly 20,000 vines rise gently along a northwesterly slope. Fairbairn Ranch vines produce an average of 70 tons per year of this popular Rhone varietal or just over 3 tons per acre.
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| Aerial photography reveals the thriving Biodynamic® vines (this photo is not retouched). |
Map of Fairbairn Ranch
Statistics
| Precipitation: |
Average annual 32 - 44 inches |
| Air Temperature: |
Average annual 57 - 59 degrees F. |
| Frost free period: |
Average annual is 200 - 250 days |
| Vineyard Elevation: |
Average 560 ft. |
| Exposure: |
Northwesterly slope |
| Soil Composition: |
Yokayo Sandy Loam and Redvine Sandy Loam |
| Average Yield: |
3 - 4 tons per acre |
| First Vintage: |
1997 |
| Variety |
Blocks |
Spacing
|
Year Planted
|
Vines |
Acres |
Rootstock |
Clone |
| Syrah |
A
|
6x8
|
1994
|
16,976 |
18.72 |
5C |
#03 |
| Syrah |
B
|
6x8 |
1994
|
1,641 |
1.81 |
S04 |
#03 |
| Syrah |
C
|
6x8 |
1994
|
926 |
1.02 |
Freedom |
#03 |
| Total |
|
|
|
19,543 |
22 |
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